Stormwater Utility

Summary

The City of Fairfax's Stormwater Utility was established on December 14, 2021, with an initial rate of $28.80 per billable unit. Since then, annual rate increases have averaged approximately 6%. A work session discussion scheduled for February 25, 2025 was deferred, and a subsequent work session on May 13, 2025 resulted in no action. On March 24, 2026, staff and consultants from Davenport (a 25-year city financial partner) presented a stormwater utility update as part of a broader FY27 budget work session covering capital improvement, stormwater, and wastewater funds. A public hearing on a proposed 5% rate increase — setting the rate at $36.02 per billable unit for calendar year 2026 — was held on April 28, 2026, with no action taken that night. On May 5, 2026, the City Council unanimously approved the ordinance amending Chapter 102, Article 5, Section 102-203B to set the stormwater utility rate at $36.02 per billable unit effective January 1, 2026; user fees at that rate are projected to generate approximately $3.4 million, reflecting an increase of roughly $162,000 over the prior year.

Open questions & options on the table

• Stormwater utility credit for storm drain marking (e.g., 'only rain down the drain' program) — staff indicated they would verify whether this credit is still active (May 12, 2026).
• Staffing capacity to implement stormwater utility-funded programs, including urban forestry initiatives, was identified as an ongoing constraint as of July 14, 2026.

What members have said

Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.

Discussion time

Minutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting.